Protecting from poisonous gas in warfare.



J. A. STEINMETZ.

PROTECTING FROM POISONOUS GAS IN WARFARE.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, l9l5. 1,225,521

gnuewboz Patented May 8, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I J. A. STEINMETZ.

PROTECTtNG mom POISONOUS GAS m WARFARE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 19l5- 1,225,521 Patented May 8, 1917.

2 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .Iil VII JOSEPH A. STEINMETZ, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

PROTECTING FROM POISONOUS GAS IN WARFARE.

Application filed September 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH A. STEINMETZ,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Protecting from Poisonous Gas in Warfare, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

It is now common to take advantage of a favorable wind to send into thetrenches of an opposing army heavy life-destroying gases, and nosatisfactory defense against such attacks is in use, so far as I amadvised. The object of this invention is to provide fairly satisfactoryprotection against such use of deleterious gas.

Since the gas used must be heavy enough to be carried along the groundfor some distance and to fill the attacked trenches before it rises orbecomes so diffused or diluted as to be harmless, and since such movingheavy gas is readily deflected by transverse currents of other gaseousfluid, it is quite possible to'deflect it upwardly so that the breezewhich advances it will carry it onward far above the works against whichit is directed; and should it again fall it will be after such diffusionand dilution as to deprive it of. its dangerous character.

In the accompanying drawings which are diagrammatic,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of opposing earthworks and illustrates thesuggested attack and defense.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the same works.

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1, showing similar defensive devices usedwith two parallel trenches.

' Fig. 4 is a like view showing the arrangement which may beadopted whenthere is a succession of three or more trenches.

In these views, A, A, A represent earthworks to be defended and Bhostile works from which poisonous heavy gases may be carried across anintervening field C by air moving in the direction of the arrow ofFig. 1. As shown in the latter figure, a condult or pipe D, perforatedat short intervals, extends in front-of and parallel to the earthworksA, and this conduit is supplied with gasolene or other combustible fluidby a pipe E from a tank or reservoir F in or near' the trench and ifdesired below the Specification of Letters Patent.

provided for other reasons.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Serial No. 49,133.

surface of the earth. The pipe E is provided with a valve E, and thereservoir, when it is a closed container and especially when it is belowthe level of the conduit D, is connected 'by a pipe G, having a checkvalve G, with a. pump H by which pressure may be created in thereservoir so that on the opening of the valve E the combustible fluidWill be very quickly distributed along the conduit D.

Whenever poisonous gas is to be deflected, the conduit D is thussupplied and the fluid discharged is ignited by throwing burningmaterial into the vicinity of the pipe or by any other suitable means.There is thus created instantly a rapidly rising curtain of heated airand products of combustion, and this rises far above the earthworks andis bent rearwardly by the same breeze which brings the noxious gasesfrom the hostile trenches at B. The latter gases on reaching thiscurtain are deflected by it and carried upward and rearward withoutafi'ecting the occupants of the trench and indeed without power to harmif they finally fall,

'since they are lost in great body of the sur rounding atmosphere.

The pipe D of Figs. 1 and 2 being somewhat exposed may be injured by gunfire, and with the enemy in force in front repairs would be verydiificult by night or day. For such reasons the single trench is notdesirable where more can be provided, and in fact parallel trenches are'usually When such trenches have been formed each is provided with a fuelpipe D, D etc., which is protected from direct hostile fire, and byproper manipulation of valves E E etc., any of the pipes, or part or allof them may be used simultaneously or in succession. If two or more beused at the same time, each creates a moving curtain and supplements theaction of the others making assurance of protection doubly sure. Theoccupants of the trenches may if they desire ignite the fuel in onetrench and temporarily retire to the next in rear, for naturally the gasliberated by the enemy effectually prevents immediate advance by theirown men. It is to. be noted that this defense may be instantlyinterposed as often as the enemy makes it necessary and may be asquickly discontinued when the-danger is past, so that little fuel iswasted. It is further worthy of mention that the apparatus required isvery simple,

and that modern armies are constantly supplied with large quantities ofcombustible material suitablefor the use set forth, and that the methodalthough shown as used with simple trenches isv equally applicablewherever poisonous gas 1s similarly emline slightly in front of theboundary of the area to be protected, highly combustible fuel, thusforming a protecting wall of heated rising gas which deflects thepoisonous gas to a safe height a'Bove such area.

2. The method of defending against poisonous gas advancing toward anarea to be protected which consists in delivering along a line slightlyin front of the margin of such area highly combustible fluid fuel underpressure and igniting the fuel so delivered,

thereby forming a wall of rapidly rising heated gases to deflect to asafe height the advancing poisonous gas.

3. The method of defending against poisonous gas used in warfare whichconsists in delivering a supply of fluid fuel under controlled pressurealong a' line slightly in front of the area to'be protected and ignitingthefuel so delivered, thereby forming a controllable wall of heatedrising gases to deflect advancing poisonous gas to a safe height abovesaid area.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.JOSEPH A. STEINMETZ.

Witnesses:

OMA F. STEmME'rz,

T. LEWIS TEoMAs.

